William Adonis Butler born 12/01/03 Paddington, London died 1992 Poole Dorset.

Married Mary Quinn in Autumn/Winter 1926.

He told stories of his voyages on the Union Castle Line as a boy/young man but also travelled to Ceylon, perhaps with another shipping line.

In 1936/37 he worked as a props buyer/set designer at Denham Studios, Bucks.

He and Mary were interned on Isle of Man in May 1940 under Regulation 18B as members of the outlawed British Union.

He was described in his internment papers as "Ex seaman, North London cafe owner, volunteered for heavy lifting work after Liverpool air raids."

He must have been trained as an engineer at some time for, after his release he managed a factory making engine parts for fighter aircraft.

After the war he became a farmer, then sailed to Australia (1950) with his family to become an antiques buyer for Harry Scarfe, a department store in Adelaide. Returned to UK in 1952-54. My wife recalls it was 1st class out and back.

In the late 1950s he started a precision engineering business called Meter Jewel Manufacturing Ltd in Wandsworth, London and later in Luton and ran this very successfully until his death in 1992. His son Gerald then carried on with the business in Verwood, Dorset.

Above

Outward bound to Australia aboard Orcades in 1950

All seafarers will recall who sit’s on a ship’s rail:

Fools, Firemen and First Trippers !

Below

Homeward bound aboard Orion 1952/54